Folding stock or poultry rack.



No. 627,535. Patented lune 27, I899. J. SCHICHTL.

FOLDING STOCK 0R POULTRY RACK.

(Applicatiun flle'd Dc. 19, 1898.]

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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THE mums PETERS 00,, PHoTo-umu WASHINGTON, u. c,

No. 627,535. Patented lune 27, I899.

J. SCHICHTL.

FOLDING STOCK 0R POULTRY RACK.

(Application filed Dec. 18, 1898.)

(No Model.) 2 Shaets-Sheei 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH.SCHIOHTL,OF LE SUEUR, MINNESOTA.

FOLDING STOCK ORPOULTRY RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,535, dated June 27, 1899.

Application filed December 19,1898. Serial No. 699.746. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, JOSEPH ScHIcHTL', a citizen of the United States, residing at Le Sueu 1',

in the county of Le Sueur and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Im-' proveinent in Folding Racksfor Stock or the followadapted to be extended while the animals are.

stored or being shipped and to be folded or collapsed into smaller compass when being returned empty or when not in use; and my objects are to produce a rack which is cheap, light, durable, and easily operated and in which the several parts are inseparable. .I attain these objects by the means shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the annexed specification, to which reference is made as being full and explicit enough to enable one skilled in the art to make and use my device. g a

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device in extended or operative position set up for use, with the end by dotted lines shown folded outwardly. Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view on the line :0 min Fig. 3. Fig.

3 is an end view of the device when set up.

for use. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View upon the line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an end view of the device when collapsed. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View of the device when collapsed,taken upon the line ,2 z of Fig. 5.

Like numerals indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The bottom board 1 has fastened across it at suitable intervals the bands 2. Hinged to the bands 2 at their ends by means of the hinges 3. are the strips 4, which are provided at their middles with the hinges 5, and at their upper ends are hinged by hinges 6 to crossstrips'7 of the top of the device.

Fastened longitudinally upon the device upon the strips 4 at right angles thereto are the slats 8, arranged above and below the hinges 5, so as to pass alternately by each other when the device is folded, and upon the strips '7 at right-angles thereto are fastened the slats 9. The bottom stripsor posts and slats form a rectangular rack or crate when extended. The ends are fastened to the bottom by means of the hinges 10, and are composed of the upright members 11 and the cross-strips 12.

-The hinges 10 are constructed so as to allow the ends to fold inwardly, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and also outwardly, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. WVhen folded outwardly, the end forms a runway or gangway for animals entering the device. I

All of the hinges in my device are free from play and capable of sustaining such Weight as may be put upon them.

To fasten and hold the device in position, I use the clasps 13, hinged upon the outermost bands 7 of the top, which clasps are provided with eyes 14, engaging staples 15, fastened upon the ends in proper place. After the clasps have engaged the staples the rod 16 is inserted, which securely locks the ends in position when the rack is extended.

In the ends of the bottom of the device I provide the staples 17, with which the clasps i13 engage to lock the device in folded or collapsed position, as shown in Fig. 5. The same clasps and rod fastenthe device both in extended and collapsed position.

If desirable, a lid 18 may be provided, as shown 'by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The ends are so set upon the bottom that when the device is extended for use the outer edges of the upright strips 11 of the ends are -flush with the outer edges of the outermost bands 4 of the sides, whereby the ends prevent the sides folding inwardly at the hinges 5 when the crate is in use. This disposition of the ends prevents any swaying of the sides and'at the same time forces thebands or strips 4 of the'sides to support the entire weight of the superstructure of the device free from the ends. Consequently the ends can always easily be folded outwardly or inwardly, and one end can be folded in or out without collapsing the device.

The strips or hands 4 are adapted to fold inwardly at their rniddles by means of the hinges 5, and the several hinges are so constructed that the parts of the crate are inseparable. Neither the ends nor top can become detached. 7

My'device may. be made in various sizes and adapted to the shipping of poultry, sheep, hogs, calves, dogs, &c. When used for animals of the heavier classes, the end may be folded outwardly to rest upon the ground or upon the platform of the stock-yard, and form a runway or gangway for the animals into the crate. When used for poultry, the lid provided upon the top may be used. \Vhile loading animals at one end the other end holds the device in extended position and prevents its collapsing. Vhen used in shipping, the rack is easily collapsed and returned at very slight cost, whether it is sent in the weight or the bulk class. When used upon the farmers wagon, it may be collapsed upon the trip home from market, and feed, lumber, machinery, or other property may be loaded thereupon and hauled home with no trouble. The top does not have to be removed before the device can be collapsed, and the convenience as well as the novel construction of this rack, with its parts all inseparabl y connected, is at once apparent.

It is obvious that while the rack shown in the drawings is rectangular, various modifications may be made in the form and proportions of the device, as in the material of which it is made, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I am aware that folding devices of this class have been patented heretofore, and I do not claim the folding rack broadly.

Having fully described my invention, what I desire to secure Letters Patent upon and what I claim is as follows:

1. A folding stock and poultry rack comprising a bottom and top, straight pieces or strips secured to the bottom and top at their ends and intermediate of their lengths, hinged pieces or strips hinged to their corresponding straight strips and connecting said strips together, sides of the rack secured to the hinged strips, ends hinged to the bottom of the rack and adapted to fold inwardly and outwardly without moving any other part of the rack, and lockin g devices adapted to hold said rack in both its extended and collapsed position.

2. A folding stock and poultry rack, comprising a bottom and top, straight pieces secured to the under side of the top, similar pieces secured to the upper side of the bottom, hinged strips or pieces hinged to-the ends of said corresponding straight pieces, sides secured to said hinged strips having slats that clear alternately when folded and adapted to Minnesota, this 16th day of December, A. D. 1898.

JOSEPH SCIIICIITL. Witnesses:

GEO. BARBARAS, CHAS. DOFFING. 

